A 3D Multilevel Heterostructure Containing 2D Vertically Aligned MoS2 Nanosheets and 1D Sandwich C-MoS2-C Nanotubes to Enhance the Storage of Li+ Ions.

To overcome the disadvantages of the MoS2 anode for LIBs in terms of low intrinsic conductivity, poor mechanical stability, and adverse reaction with electrolytes, a 3D multilevel heterostructure (VANS-MoS2-CNTs) has been successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method followed by thermal treatment. VANS-MoS2-CNTs are made up of 2D vertically aligned MoS2 nanosheets (VANS) and 1D sandwich C-MoS2-C nanotubes (CNTs). The sandwich-like nanotube is the core part, which is made up of the MoS2 nanotube covered by carbon layers on both side surfaces. Due to the special heterostructure, VANS-MoS2-CNTs have good conductivity, high structured stability, and excellent Li+/electron transport, resulting in high discharge capacity (1587 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g), excellent rate capacity (1330 and 730 mAh/g at current densities of 0.1 and 2 A/g, respectively), and good cyclic stability (1270 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g after 100 cycles).

AIEE-Active Flavones as a Promising Tool for the Real-Time Tracking of Uptake and Distribution in Live Zebrafish.

In recent years, aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) molecules have shown great potential for applications in the fields of bio-detection, imaging, optoelectronic devices, and chemical sensing. Based on our previous studies, we investigated the fluorescence properties of six flavonoids and confirmed that compounds 1-3 have good aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties through a series of spectroscopic experiments. Compounds with AIEE properties have addressed the limitation imposed by the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of classic organic dyes owing to their strong fluorescence emission and high quantum yield. Based on their excellent fluorescence properties, we evaluated their performance in the cell and we found that they could label mitochondria specifically by comparing their Pearson correlation coefficients (R) with Mito Tracker Red and Lyso-Tracker Red. This suggests their future application in mitochondrial imaging. Furthermore, studies of uptake and distribution characterization in 48 hpf zebrafish larvae revealed their potential for monitoring real-time drug behavior. The uptake of compounds by larvae varies significantly across different time cycles (between uptake and utilization in the tissue). This observation has important implications for the development of visualization techniques for pharmacokinetic processes and can enable real-time feedback. More interestingly, according to the data presented, tested compounds aggregated in the liver and intestine of 168 hpf larvae. This finding suggests that they could potentially be used for monitoring and diagnosing liver and intestinal diseases.

Finite element analysis of human lumbar vertebrae in internal fixation system model with different bone density trajectories.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the biomechanics effect of modified cortical bone screw technique (MCBT) with other traditional internal fixation systems on lumbar osteoporotic wet specimen. METHODS: Four different finite element models were established using CT data: (1) lumbar osteoporosis model without internal fixation system; (2) traditional pedicle screw technology (TT) model; (3) traditional cortical bone screw technology (CBT) model; (4) MCBT model. The changes of global displacement, intervertebral disc displacement of all models and internal fixation system Von Mises stress among the three models were compared under the same physiological load. RESULTS: Compared with the other three models, the total displacement of the modified CBT screw model was the smallest, with the maximum displacement of 0.216 mm; The intervertebral disc displacement of the modified CBT screw model was the smallest, with the maximum displacement of 0.149 mm; the internal fixation system Von Mises stress of the modified CBT screw technique model was the largest compared with the other three models, The maximum Von Mises stress is 232.73 MPa. CONCLUSION: Compared to traditional pedicle screw and traditional CBT, MCBT has better mechanical stability, and it is of certain clinical application value.

Synthesis of New AIEE-Active Chalcones for Imaging of Mitochondria in Living Cells and Zebrafish In Vivo.

Fluorophores with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties have attracted increasing interest in recent years. On the basis of our previous research, we successfully designed and synthesized eleven chalcones. Through an optical performance experiment, we confirmed that compounds 1-6 had obvious AIEE properties. As these AIEE molecules had excellent fluorescence properties and a large Stokes shift, we studied their application in living cell imaging, and the results showed that these compounds had low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility at the experimental concentrations. More importantly, they could specifically label mitochondria. Subsequently, we selected zebrafish as experimental animals to explore the possibilities of these compounds in animal imaging. The fluorescence imaging of zebrafish showed that these AIEE molecules can enter the embryo and can be targeted to aggregate in the digestive tract, which provides a strong foundation for their practical application in the field of biological imaging. Compared with traditional fluorophores, these AIEE molecules have the advantages of possessing a small molecular weight and high flexibility. Therefore, they have excellent application prospects in the field of biological imaging. In addition, the findings of this study have very positive practical significance for the discovery of more AIEE molecules.

Flavanone-Based Fluorophores with Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement Characteristics for Mitochondria-Imaging and Zebrafish-Imaging.

Fluorophores with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics applied in bioimaging have attracted more and more attention in recent years. In this work, a series of flavanone compounds with AIEE characteristics was developed and applied to fluorescence imaging of mitochondria and zebrafish. The compounds were readily prepared by the thermal dehydration of chalcone that was obtained by the reaction of o-hydroxyacetophenone and benzaldehyde. Two of these compounds showed significant AIEE characteristics by fluorescence performance experiments, including optical spectra, fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yield (φF), fluorescence lifetime, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with traditional organic fluorescent dyes, these compounds have high fluorescence emission and high fluorescence quantum yield in solid or aggregated state, which overcomes the shortcoming of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). More importantly, the two compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity and good cytocompatibility in A549 lung cells at the experimental concentration range and they specifically targeted mitochondria, which make it of great potential use in mitochondria labeling. In addition, they were embryonic membrane permeable and had different affinities for different tissues and organs of zebrafish, but mainly distributed in the digestive system, providing a basis for the application of such compounds in bioimaging. These AIEE compounds with superior properties could be of great potential use in mitochondria imaging and other in vivo studies.

Highly efficient methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) removal and light naphtha purification via synergistic effect of molecular sieves and fixed adsorption bed.

Light naphtha is an important raw material for the production of benzene, toluene, and xylene from cracking in tubular furnaces for the production of ethylene and propylene. Light naphtha contains MDEA which is left behind after desulfurization. MDEA remaining in light naphtha will cause high alkalinity of light naphtha, which decreases product quality and increases costs. Additionally, MDEA itself is not easy to degrade and is harmful to human skin, so the removal of MDEA is of great significance for the purification of light naphtha and the protection of the environment. In this paper, a molecular sieve (13X) is compared with silica gel and resin (NKA-9) as a means of removing MDEA from light naphtha via synergism with a fixed adsorption bed. The adsorption capacity decreased in the order of 13X > NKA-9 > silica gel, with values of 53.189, 45.889 and 34.863 mg g-1, respectively. Similarly, the effectiveness of steam for 13X regeneration after adsorption saturation was investigated, and the steam regeneration restored 95% of the activity of the fresh 13X. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism of MDEA in light naphtha by 13X was studied, and it was confirmed that the adsorption process was dominated by chemisorption, supplemented by physisorption. The -OH and -NH2 functional groups were the main groups involved in the chemisorption, and capillary action and hydrogen bond action may be involved in physisorption.