Sulfur-doped α-Fe2O3 as an efficient and recycled peroxydisulfate activator toward organic pollutant degradation: performance and mechanism.

Sulfur (S)-doped α-Fe2O3 has been regarded as an excellent catalyst for eliminating organic pollutants in the photo-Fenton-like reaction. Yet, the synthetic complexity and extremely low activity in the dark Fenton-like reaction still need to be solved. In this study, magnetic α-Fe2O3 with sulfide was successfully fabricated via hydrothermal and calcination processes, for the first time, where thiourea acted as both S source and reducing agent, and then, it was applied for activating peroxydisulfate (PDS) to degrade organic contaminants. Important influencing factors were systemically investigated, and the results showed that this catalyst activating PDS was highly effective in the removal of organic pollutants in dark- and photo-Fenton-like reactions. In addition, the catalyst possessed good stability and recyclable ability. The structure of catalyst was analyzed by several characterizations, such as XRD and XPS. The results revealed that sulfide had an important effect on the structure and performance of α-Fe2O3. The detected mechanism indicated that the main reactive oxygen species were altered after switching from darkness to LED illumination. This work offered a promising method to rationally design for S/α-Fe2O3 in the environmental remediation.

Ciliated Cells Express a Novel Pattern of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: Mounting research indicates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has great potential to increase neuro-hyperresponsiveness and airway resistance in airway allergic disease. The expression level of BDNF has been found to be notably elevated in lung/nasal lavage (NAL) fluid. However, the expression and position of BDNF in ciliated cells with allergic rhinitis remains unclear. Methods: Nasal mucosal cells were collected from patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and mice which were performed under different allergen challenge time, then observed the expression and position of BDNF located in ciliated cells through the immunofluorescence staining. Nasal mucosa, serum and NAL fluid were collected also. The expression level of BDNF and IL-4/5/13 were detected by RT-PCR. The expressions of BDNF (in serum and NAL fluid), and total-IgE, ovalbumin sIgE (in serum) were detected by ELISA. Results: We found that MFI of BDNF in AR group's ciliated cells was obviously lower than that in the control group, and a negative correlation was discovered between MFI and VAS score. It can be roughly divided into 5 patterns according to its location in the cytoplasm of ciliated cells. In the mouse model, the expressions of BDNF in serum and NAL fluid increased temporarily after allergen stimulation. The MFI of BDNF in ciliated cells displayed an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease. Conclusion: Our study shows for the first time that, the expression and localization of BNDF were observed in the human nasal ciliated epithelial cells of allergic rhinitis, and the expression of level was less than the control group under the persistent state of allergy. BDNF expression in ciliated cells was transient increased after allergen stimulation and decreased to normal level after 24h in mouse model of allergic rhinitis. This might be the possible source of the transient increase of BNDF in serum and NAL fluid.

FeMoS2 micoroparticles as an excellent catalyst for the activation of peroxymonosulfate toward organic contaminant degradation.

The FeMoS2 catalyst for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is a promising pathway for removing organic pollutants in wastewater, however, the dominant FeS2 phases and sulfur (S) vacancies in it are little involved. Herein, for the first time, novel bimetallic FeMoS2 microparticles were synthesized by a simple method and then applied for PMS activation for degrading organic pollutants. The catalysts were characterized by several techniques, including X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. The results revealed that new FeMoS2 microparticles containing S vacancies in the main FeS2 phases were obtained. FeS2 and S vacancies were found to play important roles for activating PMS by radical and nonradical pathways. More Fe2+ and Mo4+ were formed in the presence of S vacancies, which offered a new strategy for exploring novel heterogeneous catalysts in the activation of PMS for environmental remediation.

Sulfur vacancies on MoS2 enhanced the activation of peroxymonosulfate through the co-existence of radical and non-radical pathways to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater.

The enhancement of vacancies in catalysts involving Fenton-like reactions is a promising way to remove organic pollutants in wastewater, but sulfur vacancies are rarely involved. In this work, MoS2 containing defect sites were synthesized by a simple high-temperature treatment and then applied for activating peroxymonosulfate to eliminate organic pollutants in wastewater. The structure was characterized by several techniques such as XRD, BET, and XPS. Important influencing factors were systemically investigated. The results indicated that MoS2 with sulfur vacancies possessed a higher catalytic activity than that of the parent MoS2. The annealing temperature of the catalyst had a great effect on the removal of organic pollutants. Besides, the catalytic system had a wide pH range. Quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments indicated that the reaction system contained radical and non-radical species. The characterization results revealed that the defect sites in catalysts mainly strengthened the activity of catalysts. This study offers a new heterogeneous catalyst for the removal of organic pollutants via the peroxymonosulfate-based Fenton-like reactions.

Extrapancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm: report of a unique case of primary posterior mediastinum origin and review of the literature.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare and low malignant potential neoplasm that traditionally occurs in pancreas. Herein, we report a mediastinal SPN in a 62-year-old woman. Clinically, the patient was asymptomatic. A mass in posterior mediastinum was detected by chest computerized tomographic (CT) scan during her annual checkup. The CT scan revealed a 30 mm solid nodule with well-defined outline in right posterior mediastinum. Histologically, the tumor was comprised of solid cellular nests as well as sheets of cells with an epithelioid appearance, and some pseudopapillary areas could also be identified. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for ß-catenin (nuclear and cytoplasmic), cyclin D1, CD56, CD10, CD99 (paranuclear dot-like), SOX11 (weak) and TFE3, while negative for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3), E-cadherin, WT-1, synaptophysin, chromogranin and progesterone receptor. SPNs can occur in aberrant locations and this is the first one reported in mediastinum, pathologists should learn about the rare case for a better differential diagnosis. The patient underwent a video-assisted thoracoscope tumorectomy. She has been followed up for 5 months with no recurrence or metastasis.

Oxygen doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for the degradation of organic pollutants by activating hydrogen peroxide in the presence of bicarbonate in the dark.

The development of novel wastewater treatment processes that use heterogeneous catalysts to activate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with bicarbonate (HCO3 -) has been a subject of great interest in recent years; however, significant challenges remain, despite research into numerous metal-based catalysts. The work presented herein employed oxygen-doped graphitic carbon nitride (O/g-C3N4) as a non-metal catalyst for activating H2O2 in the presence of HCO3 -, and this method represented the first system capable of removing organic pollutants in the dark, to our knowledge. The catalysts were characterized using several microscopic imaging, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and crystallographic techniques, as well as N2-physorption procedures. Analysis of the results revealed that the O/g-C3N4 catalyst possessed a high specific surface area and many defect sites. Various operational parameters, including the relative amounts of HCO3 -, H2O2, and O/g-C3N4, were systemically investigated. A clear performance enhancement was observed in the degradation of organic contaminants when subjected to the HCO3 --H2O2-O/g-C3N4 system, and this result was ascribed to the synchronous adsorption and chemical oxidation processes. The novel system presented herein represented a new water treatment technology that was effective for removing organic contaminants.

Synthesis of oxygen-doped graphitic carbon nitride and its application for the degradation of organic pollutants via dark Fenton-like reactions.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising photocatalyst for environmental protection but its development is greatly limited for its application in dark Fenton-like reactions due to its extremely low specific surface area and lack of suitable active sites. Herein, for the first time, graphitic carbon nitride with large surface area and abundant defect sites was developed by tailoring oxygen via a simple and green method without any templates, namely, the calcination-hydrothermal-calcination successive treatment of melamine. The structure of the catalyst was characterized using several technologies, including XRD, SEM, TEM, N2-physisorption, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. The results revealed that it possessed a large specific surface area (ca. 236 m2 g-1), while changes in its structural properties such as the formation of new defect sites and change in the content of nitrogen atoms were observed. These properties were beneficial for the in situ activation of H2O2 toward reactive oxygen species, as confirmed by the reactive oxygen species capturing experiments. Furthermore, various influencing factors were systemically investigated. The results clearly showed that the oxygen-doped g-C3N4 was light-independent and metal-free Fenton-like catalyst for the enhanced degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. Compared to the pristine g-C3N4, the oxygen-doped g-C3N4 showed superior performance under various conditions such as broad pH range and excellent stability. Thus, this study provides a novel pathway for the treatment of organic pollutants in water.

The Characteristics of Human Resources and Related Research Activities among Basic Stem Cell Research Groups in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of faculty and research activities of basic stem cell research groups in China. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to persons who knew the information among 46 basic stem cell research groups in China. Multiple linear regression models and repeated-measures analyses of variance were used. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used. RESULTS: Of the 46 groups, 39.1% did not have any faculty recruited from abroad from 2009 to 2013, 37.0% did not have any faculty with junior-level title, 34.8% had ≤25.0% faculty with either M.D. or Ph.D. degree. Papers published in SCI journals per faculty and having faculty recruited from abroad were positively associated with research funding per faculty. The groups with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed the group with faculty recruited from abroad had significantly higher research funding per faculty over time compared with the group without faculty recruited from abroad. CONCLUSION: To increase the development of basic stem cell research, some characteristics of human resources should be improved, and the groups should recruit more faculty with overseas experience.